A vehicle including a suspension system with a damper assembly acting transversely to dampen both heave and roll; and a damper assembly for such a vehicle

摘要

A vehicle comprises a sprung mass and left and right unsprung masses associated with left and right wheels 11 of a said left-right pair. A damper assembly 1 is mounted on the sprung mass and comprises a damper housing 3 defining a generally cylindrical chamber 4 having end walls 5, 6 at opposite axial ends thereof. Respective left and right damper rods 7, 8 are sealingly received through bores 9, 10 in these opposite axial end walls 5, 6 and are coupled respectively to the left and right unsprung masses. The respective left and right damper rods 7, 8 are arranged for movement into and out of the chamber 4 as their respective unsprung masses move relative to the sprung mass. The damper assembly provides damping both for heave and roll. The damper assembly 1 may comprise a first cylinder defining respective left and right heave damper chambers 20, 21 separated by a bulkhead 19. Respective left and right damper rods 7, 8 of the assembly are respectively slidingly received through left and right axial end walls 17, 18 of the cylinder along a common axis. Each damper rod 7, 8 carries a respective damper piston 16 slidable within the respective left or right heave damper chambers 20, 21.